Brake-beam.



J. J. HOFFMAN.

BRAKE BEAM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 19 10.

' Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

INVEMTQR.

P MQ\ L illlx UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIOE,

JOHN a. HOFFMANLOF NEW KENSINGTON, rn NsYLvANiA. AssioNoR T0 PETER H.

MURPHY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRAKE-BEAM.

Specification of'tet'lers Intent. Patented Now, 22, 191() Application niea June as, 1910.- was No. 559,454.

sion of a simple, strong and durable con-.

neetion between the strutbar or king-post and the compression member. The purpose of binding the strut to the compression member is, as is well understood by those skilled in the art, toprevent longitudinal creeping of the strut along the compression member,

with consequent weakening and destruction of the truss intcgrity'of the beam.

I will nowdescribe my invention so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may understand and construct the same, referring to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown my invention as applied to a brake beam having a conipression member of the flange type. It will be apparent, however, that li y-invention is applicable to beams employing compression members of variouscross-sectional shapes.

Figure 1 a top lan iew of a brake beam embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the top of the strut and associated portion .of the com-pression member in section, and showing the fingers employed in binding the compression member to the strut, in lower inclined positions; Figs 3 is a. similarview, showing the strut firmly bound to the compression -rnember, and Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 4- 4 of Fig. 3. y

In the drawings the reference numeral 2 indlcates the compress1on member,- 3 the tension member, 4 the king-post or strut b'ar,

and 5 the brake shoe heads mounted upon the respective ends of the beam.

My invention has particular reference to the connection between the compression member 2 and the strut 4t, and in this connection, and in the preferable embodiment of my invention as shown in the drawings I provlde the top of the strut with the transverse openin or socket t, through which the compressionmelnber 2 is passed in the assembling of the different parts of the beam. 7 1

As shown in.Fig. 4,'the socket 4' is of such dimensions as to snugly receive without binding the compression member 2. Preferably thesocket is of such depth as to permit of the free insertion of a cambered beam without binding of the webG and edge-of the flanges 7 against the wall of the socket.

In cooperation with the diverging faces 8 of the compression member, incident to the camber being. placed therein the upper inner face of the socket may be correspond-l ingly shaped as indicatedby the numeral 9, so that when the beam is bound against the upper face of the socket, a' sort of an interlock will be provided between the respective faces.

Means for binding the compression mem ber against the top of the socket comprise in normal position, soas to permit of the insertion of the co'n'ipression member '2, are bent downwardly orinclined toward each other in the manner shown in Fig.'-2, to provide a clearance for the passage ofthe web (3 and flanges 7.- By driving the fingers to the upright position shown in Fig. 2, it will be apparent that the compression mem; her will be firmly bound thereby against creeping to the upper face 9 of the. socket;

As shown in Fig. 2 these lingers 10,may be driven to the upright position shown in Fig. 3 by the insertion of a suitable too'l flanges 7 of the compression member; the

fingers l-O being preferably staggered so as to permit-of the free access from the oppo site side of the strut, of the tool, to and for a purchase on the fingers 10. for-an upward setting thereof. By providing the fingers with the' oppositely disposed inclined side faces for binding cooperation withthe inner faces of the flanges 7, the frictional resistance between the fingers and, compression member may be greatly ncreased.

The advantages of my invention Wlll be appreciated by those skilled in the art. My improved connection between the compres- 105 sion member and the strut, as willbe seen, is simple in construction, and is such asto firmly and l'astingly bind these respective members together so as to prevent relative creeping. The fingers 10 may be readily into the socket at points between the.

75 the'lingcrs 10 which are formed preferably integral with the strut ll These fingers 10 formed on the strut 4 by casting or forging,

and preferably in the position shown in Fig.

2, ready for the attachment of the compression member. a

It will be apparent that many changes may be 'made in the construction shown which would not be a departure from my invention, andI do not therefore desire to limit myself thereto.

ber connected at their respective ends, of a strut interposed between the members and having an aperture through which the compression member passes, the strut being provided with an inte ral finger adapted to be a compression member and a tension memforced against and bind the compression member within the strut aperture. 30

3. In a brake beam, the combination with a compression member and a tension member connected at their respective ends, a strut interposed between the members, and having an aperture for the passage of the compression member, the strut being provided with a finger adapted to be driven against and terminally impinge upon the compression member for binding of the compression member to the strut.

4. In a brake beam the combination with a compression member and a tension member united at their respective ends, of a strut interposed between the members, and provided with an aperture for the passage of the com ression member, -and having a plurality o fin ers arranged in staggered relation, and a apted-to be forced against the compression member for binding thereof to the strut.

5.,In a brake beam, the combination with ber united at their respective ends, of a strut interposed between the members and face,

tion and adapted to be forced against and impinge upon the compression member.

7. In a brake beam, the combmatlon with a compression member and a tenslon member united at their respective ends, of a strut interposed between the members and provided with an aperture for the passage of the compression member, and having an inte ral finger ro cctin u wardl from the gvallof the d perture gnd adaptei i to'be forced into engagement with the compression member.

8. In a brake beam, the combination with a compression member and a tension member united. at their respective ends, of a strut in terposed between the members and having an aperture for the reception of the com- 7 pression member, and provided with a plurality of fingers projecting from the wall of the socket and disposed in staggeredrelation and adapted to beforced into engage;

ment with the compression member.

9. In a brake beam, the combination with a compression member and a tension member united at their respective ends, of a strut interposed between the members, and having an aperture for the passage of the compression member, the upper 'wall of the aperture having an inner angularly disposed against w ich the compression member is adapted to abut, and the strut also bein provided with a finger adapted to be forced into engagement with the compression member for bindin thereof against the angularly disposed face.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

. JOHN J. HOFFMAN. Witnesses:

M. ARTHUR FULLER, M. A. BARTH. 

